In latitude
54° 36 north, and in longitude 5° 54 west from Greenwich, is 80 miles
north of Dublin, seven north by east of Lisburn, 17 north east of
Lurgan, 18 south of Larne, 8 south by west of Carrickfergus, and 12
south east of Antrim. It stands on the southern extremity of
Carrickfergus Bay, at the mouth of the river Lagan, and, though
extremely low in situation, is both healthy, and well adapted for all
the purposes of trade. A chain of mountains, scarcely two miles
distant towards and north and west, bestows uncommon grandeur and beauty
on the general appearance of the town. Near the site occupied by
the bridge, which consists of 21 arches, was anciently a ford at low
water, and a ferry at high tide. In a map of Ireland previous to
the 13th century affixed to Seward's Hibernian Gazetteer, it is marked
under the name of Bealefarsad?, which means, according to some,
Hurdleford town, according to others, the mouth of the pool.
Belfast Lough forms one of the safest and most commodious havens in the
world, the entrance being in breadth about five English miles, and the
length about 12, gradually narrowing as it approaches the bridge.
Formerly at high water there were not more than eight or nine feet of
water at the town; now, by the judicious labours of the Ballast office,
vessels of fourteen or fifteen feet draught may be moored close to the
quays. The first account we have of Belfast in Irish history is
given by Spencer, who mentions its destruction by Edward Bruce, in the
beginning of the 14th century, in his abortive attempts to overturn the
power of England in this country, At what period the castle was
first built no record now remains. We find, however, that it was
twice destroyed by the Earl of Kildare in his excursions into Ulster,
first in 1503, and again in 1512. In the 13th year of the reign of
Queen Elizabeth, it was granted with valuable tracts of land to Sir
Thomas Smith and his son. In the beginning of the reign of James
the first, Sir Thomas was required to fulfill the conditions, by which
he held the castle of Belfast, and, because he neglected to appear, his
possessions were forfeited to the crown. The castle, town, and
manor, together with large estates, were then granted by King James in
1612 to Sir Arthur Chichester, then Lord Deputy, with the title of Baron
Chichester of Belfast. In the year 1613, Belfast was constituted
by charter from James the I, a corporation, to consist of a sovereign,
twelve burgesses, and a commonalty, a lord, and constable of the castle
were also added, the former situation to be fulfilled by Lord Chichester
and his heirs, both these officers were likewise to be burgesses with
privileges similar and equal to those of the other twelve. At this
period Belfast does not appear a place of much more note, as it is
styled in the patent town or village. From its erection into a
borough till the year 1641 its history exhibits a stern, inflexible
spirit of opposition on the part of the Presbyterians against the
established church. In 1648 it was taken possession of by General
Monk for the parliament, and during the protectorate seems to have
enjoyed tranquillity. In 1740 Lord Stafford purchased on the part
of the crown, from the corporation of Carrickfergus, their privilege of
importing foreign goods, at one third of the duties payable in other
places. This most judicious measure would have been of small
consequence, had not Belfast and the surrounding country been at that
period inhabited by an industrious people, who applied themselves
closely to the manufacturer of linen, which created a demand for
articles of importation; but the wars subsequent to the year 1741 caused
considerable interruption to the rising prosperity of Belfast.
From the day that peace was re-established, and attention paid to its
interests, a wonderful source of prosperity was then discovered, and in
the beginning of the last century Belfast was well known in Europe, as a
place of considerable trade. Since that period it has risen to a
degree of prosperity seldom exceeded, and it now ranks the third town in
Ireland, for the extent of its commerce and manufactures, as well as for
the wealth of its inhabitants. The population, including
Ballymacarrett, may be estimated at considerably above 40, 000, and the
progressive improvement of its trade has kept pace with its increase in
population. The average amount of customs for five years previous
to the year 1924, amounts to the sum of 365,9324. The government
of the town is vested by charter in the lord and constable of the
castle, the sovereign and the burgesses. The principal duty has
devolved upon the sovereign, who holds a court for the trial of petty
offences; and he has authority to make regulations with regard to the
markets, weights, and some other matters of a minor description within
the borough; he is also an ex-officio magistrate of the county of
Antrim; all regulations, however, respecting the paving, lighting,
and cleansing of the streets, are under the superintendence of the
police commissioners and committee, who are vested with such authority
by Act of Parliament. Another board of commissioners is likewise
authorised by law to regulate the supply of water, which is conveyed
through the streets principally by metal pipes. The Commercial
Buildings, erected at the foot of Donegall Street, hold a distinguished
place. They are strong and substantial, chiefly composed of
granite, and adorned in front with eight Ionic pillars of the same
material, supported on a broad cornice above the windows of the first
story; independent of the many advantages they afford to merchants, and
the numerous offices they contain, they form a conspicuous and beautiful
ornament. In one of the apartments of these buildings the chamber
of commerce, instituted in 1800, holds its meetings. Its principal
duties are generally understood to be the preservation of the rights and
privileges of the commercial body, and the collection of documents
connected with trade and commerce. The Exchange, founded in 1769,
is built of brick, partially ornamented in front with cut stone, and
possesses but little architectural beauty. There is a piazza on
the ground floor, and above it a very elegant and spacious apartment,
generally used either as an assembly room, for town's meetings, or for
public exhibitions. In the front of it the merchants formerly
assembled on Mondays and Wednesdays at twelve, and on Fridays at eleven
o'clock, to transact business; but they now meet at the Commercial
Buildings, in the piazzas erected for that purpose. The Custom
House is an old, gloomy, and inelegant edifice, situated on Hanover
Quay, and close to the edge of the water. The building has
appropriate offices for transacting the business of the port, but it is
not such as might be expected in a town which contributes so largely to
the revenue of the country; and it is at present so defective in
convenience, that stores have to be rented in various parts of the town,
a circumstance extremely annoying to the officers, and frequently very
inconvenient to the merchants. The Ballast Office, formed in 1795,
is authorizes by Act of Parliament to exact certain sums on registered
tonnage, for the purpose of improving the harbour, making docks,
employing pilots, etc. By its exertions a graving dock, capable of
containing three vessels of two hundred tons each, has been made, and a
second of much greater extent is begun. Its surplus funds are
appropriated to the support of the Poor House. The Belfast Incorporated
Charitable Society, or, as it is more generally denominated, the Poor
House, for the reception of aged and infirm persons, as well as for the
support and instruction of children destitute of protectors, has long
remained a noble proof of the general philanthropy, which prevails among
the inhabitants of Belfast. Since its commencement it has
preserved annually about three hundred individuals, old and young; the
former from want and misery, the latter from idleness and vice.
The children are instructed in the elementary branches of education,
till they are considered capable of being apprenticed out of the
trades; the old are carefully attended to, and permitted to
increase their comforts by their own industry. It is supporter by
collections at charity sermons, donations, the surplus funds of the
Ballast Office, etc. etc. The House of Industry, instituted in
1809 for the suppression of mendicity and for giving employment to
indigent females in spinning flax, etc. may be considered one of the
best and one of the most useful institutions in the town; it is
supported by voluntary contributions, donations, etc. The
Dispensary was established in 1792, for the relief of the sick at their
own habitations. The benefit of this institution will be apparent,
when it is stated, that in the first four years more than 2000 persons
received advice and medicines. Connected with the Dispensary is
the Fever Hospital, where, in the year 1817, in the short space of three
months, 959 patients were admitted, of which number 46 only died.
This is supported in the same manner as the House of Industry, aided by
a county presentment. The Lying-in Hospital was instituted in
1794, and is supported by the ladies of Belfast and its neighbourhood.
The House of Correction, erected in 1817, near the upper end of
Chichester Street, is a good brick building, and possesses excellent
regulations. The White Linen Hall, build by subscription in 1783,
is situated at the end of Donegall Place, to which it gives a
picturesque effect. This building is spacious, convenient and
handsome, and the business transacted in it considerable. In one
of its apartments the Belfast Society for Promoting Knowledge hold their
meetings, and in it they have a public library, containing a valuable
collection of books, and an extensive museum. This society is
supported by annual subscriptions. The Literary Society was
instituted in 1801, and is also held in the White Linen Hall. In
the Brown Linen Market, Donegall Street, considerable quantities of fine
yard-wide linens are sold on each market day. Belfast has two
markets for flesh meat, with which it is well supplied, one in Hercules
Street, the other in Castle Place, better known by the name of
Montgomery's Market, which has also accommodations for the sale of fish,
vegetables, fruit, etc. A market for the sale of eggs, butter and
vegetables, has lately been established on May's ground, lower
Chichester Street. There is also a well supplied fish market in
William Street South. A market is held in Smithfield three days a
week, for the sale of grain, and four days a week for the sale of
hides. There is an other market for grain by sample, in the
Commercial Buildings, three days a week. There are four newspapers
printed in Belfast. The Belfast News-Letter, published twice a
week, is said to be, with the exception of one, the oldest periodical
print in Ireland. The Commercial Chronicle is published three
times a week; the Irishman, and the Northern Whig, each once a
week. The news rooms are three; one in the Commercial Building
another in the White Linen Hall, and a third in Nelson's Club-house,
Donegall Place. They are all well supplied with the papers of the
three kingdoms, magazines, reviews, etc. etc. The places of
worship are numerous and well attended. They consist of the parish
church of St. Ann, and St. George's chapel of ease; four Presbyterian,
three Seceding, one Covenanting, one Independent, three Methodist, one
Baptist, two Catholic chapels, and a Quakers' meeting house. At
the head of the literary establishments must be placed the Academical
Institution, both as evincing great zeal on the part of the Inhabitants
to enjoy the advantages of education, and liberality of sentiment, from
the manner in which that object is carried into effect. The
building is composed of brick, neatly ornamented with cut stone, and
inspires the spectator with the idea of lightness, airiness, and
convenience. It was opened in 1814, under the superintendence of a
board of managers and visitors. The school department is conducted
by several masters, and the collegiate department under the direction of
a faculty, consisting of several professors. The building itself
forms a fine termination of Chichester Street. This institution
was created/erected by voluntary subscription, amounting to 22,000, and
is justly considered the glory of the town, and highly beneficial to the
country, Its regulations are admirable, and the number of students
and scholars amounts to some hundreds. The Belfast Academy in
Donegall Street, was founded in 1786, under the direction of a
president, trustees and patrons; the branches of learning taught in this
institution are the classics, the mathematics, French, English, arithmetic,
and writing. The Lancasterian School, Frederick Street, supported
by subscription, is open every day in the week, except Sunday, for the
instruction of children of every religious denomination. The Brown
Street School was erected, some years ago, by public subscription,
donations, etc., for the purpose of a Sunday school, for such children
as, being necessarily employed during the week, could not attend the
Lancasterian school. It has latterly been used as a day school, as
well as a Sunday school. It differs from the Lancasterian in this;
that each pupil, who attends the day school, pays a small weekly sum for
his education. A regulation of this kind has been found to be more
agreeable to the wishes of the poor of this country, than to have their
children educated gratuitously. The Belfast Savings Bank yields to
few institutions in point of real substantial advantage. No
deposits, however small, are rejected; and the funds, which the poor are
thus enabled almost insensibly to form, prove of inestimable benefit in
time of need. The Female Society for Clothing the Poor, commenced
in 1812, is supported by voluntary contributions, and has been
productive of much good. A branch of the Association for
Discountenancing Vice was established here in 1815, and distributed
moral and religious tracts. An auxiliary branch to the institution
at Claremont, near Dublin, for the education of the Deaf and Dumb has
also been lately established, and by its praiseworthy exertions several
individuals are now receiving incalculable benefits. The
only place of amusement is the theatre, in Arthur Street; Mr. Montague
Talbot, proprietor. It may finally be observed, that Belfast is to
Ireland, what Glasgow and Liverpool are to their respective kingdoms;
and it has been compared to these places by intelligent
travellers. The independence, which marks the public character of
its inhabitants, is equaled by their readiness to meet the calls of
humanity. One circumstance highly honourable to them is, that here
the traveller sees none of those wretched objects, that too often meet
his eye in large towns, nor are his ears stunned with the vociferous
calls of those, who frequently are not real objects of charity.
There are daily markets at Belfast, but that, which is considered the
principal one, is held on Friday; there is also two fairs, one on the
12th of August, the other on the 8th of November.

Academical Institution
The Rev. Thos. D. Hincks M.R.I.A., Classical Master
Adelbert D'Oisy, French and Italian Master
Henry Montgomery A. M. English Master
Thomas Spence, Writing Master
James Thomson, Mathematical Master
Ferdinand Besauccle, Drawing and Spanish Master
James L. Drummond, Professor of Anatomy and Medical Physiology President
Samuel Hanna, D.D. Professor of Divinity for the Students of the general
Synod of Ulster
Samuel Edgar, D.D. Professor of Divinity for the Students of the Seceding
Synod
John Young, L.L.D. Professor of Moral Phylosophy and Metaphysics
(Philosophy)
James Thompson, A.M. Professor of Mathematics
Rev. William Cairns, A.M. Professor of Logic and Bellés Leítres
Rev. William Bruce, Professor of Greek and Latin
Rev. Thomas D. Hiucks, Professor of Hebrew
John Stevelly, Professor of Natural Philosophy
Rev. W. D. H. M. Ewen, Lecturer on Elocution

Belfast Academy, Donegall Street
Rev. James Gray, Principal
Rev. Reuben John Bryce, Mathematical and Mercantile Master and Teacher of
Oriental and Modern Languages
James Mawhinny, English Master
Robert Telfair, Writing Master

In the county of Down, is an ancient town, and formerly sent two members
to parliament, but at the union it was disfranchised. It is,
however, much improved, and at present in a thriving condition, under
the fostering patronage of the proprietor, the Right Hon. Robert Ward,
who has a very elegant and splendid residence adjoining the town, and,
attached to it, an extensive demesne, interspersed with beautiful
gardens and shrubberies. Lord Dufferin has also a magnificent seat
and demesne within two miles of the town. These, with a variety of
other gentlemen's seats, all highly improved, a fine beach and pleasant
situation for bathing, every convenience of lodging houses, with hot and
cold baths, render this one of the most agreeable summer residences in
the north of Ireland. The church is a decent structure with a
lofty spire, the interior is well finished and in god repair; it
contains several handsome monuments of the Hamilton family, the former
proprietors of Bangor. Near the church are the ruins of a monastery,
which appears to have been very extensive. The Presbyterians have a handsome
and commodious place of worship here. The cotton trade has long been
carried on in this town with success, and there are at present two
extensive spinning mills, which give employment to a number of the poor
of both sexes; there is also a good deal done in the manufacture of
muslin. The harbour is good, having a neat pier, and great
improvements are making by Colonel Ward, at a vast expense, for the
convenience of vessels touching at this port. There are several
charity schools, chiefly supported by the Ward and Dufferin families; as
also a dispensary and savings bank. The staff of the South Down
militia is stationed here. The parish of Bangor contains twenty
townlands, the houses in which are about 100, and the population about
5000. There is a market house, but without its usual accompaniment
a market. The fairs are four in the year viz: the 29th January,
the 1st May, the 1st of August, and the 22nd of November.

Post Office - Post
Master, Mr. James Blackwood. The Dublin and Belfast Mail arrives at one,
and is despatched at nine in the evening. The English and Scotch
Mails arrive in the morning at half past eight, and are sent off at
nine.